The Modern Materialist : word nerds

Moleskine: The Helevetica Edition

Shaun Seneviratne — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Are typography nerds everywhere in a hot sweat right now? Click for more details.

These were produced for a Helevetica exhibit and only a few were made. If you're lucky, they'll make some more for you type nerds in the near future! Or you can just probably try making your own . . .

(EDIT: Added the "e" to "Moleskine")

[Via Design Milk and Nubbytwiglet]

Off the Cuff

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:28:00 GMT

One of my dating dealbreakers is bad spelling and punctuation--my guy needs to know his your from his you're and have a way with punctuation. So it's no surprise that I love these fuax ampersand cufflinks--I can't resist a word nerd that wears his dorkiness on his sleeve.

[$49, Veer]

Rainer Maria Rilke Scarf (Now Popularized by Bono)

Shaun Seneviratne — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:11:00 GMT

I must admit that I dabbled in Rainer Maria Rilke's works primarily because of my love of the band Rainer Maria. Though Bono's appearance at the Inaugural Concert with this Edun "Rainer Maria Rilke" Poem Scarf will be recognized as bringing Rilke's work back "in vogue", I'm still giving credit to my favorite female-fronted band.

Here is "The Eighth Elegy" for you to read and enjoy:

With all its eyes the natural world looks out
into the Open. Only our eyes are turned
backward, and surround plant, animal, child
like traps, as they emerge into their freedom.
We know what is really out there only from
the animal's gaze; for we take the very young
child and force it around, so that it sees
objects--not the Open, which is so
deep in animals' faces. Free from death.
We, only, can see death; the free animal
has its decline in back of it, forever,
and God in front, and when it moves, it moves
already in eternity, like a fountain.

Here is another image:

And here is an awesome video of the band Rainer Maria. Because they rule:

[$70, Edun]

[Via Selectism]

Recap: Gift Guides for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:34:00 GMT

You knew it was coming...Here's a quick recap of all the word nerd gift guides that went up over the past month:

Stocking Stuffers for Word Nerds
Gifts Under $25 for Word Nerds
Last-Minute Gifts for Word Nerds
Oh! And we can't forget the official word nerd T-shirt.

Famous Last Words Jewelry

Diana Vilibert — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:32:00 GMT

I wish I knew an English teacher to give one of these Famous Last Words necklaces to. More last words after the jump.

[$20, Etsy]

Official Word Nerd

Steph Auteri — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:34:00 GMT

[$25, One Horse Shy]

Well, I'll be damned. This whole time, I've been writing gift guides for word nerds, and I had no idea there was an official T-shirt! Too bad it's so meh.

Fortunately, One Horse Shy has a great (though small) inventory for nerds of all stripes (check out this T-shirt I bought for my hubby a year or two ago). I propose that the new word nerd uniform be the following:

[$25, One Horse Shy]

Yup. This "who vs. whom" T-shirt should do the trick.

Last-Minute Gifts for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:01:00 GMT

[$525, myTypewriter]

This Royal Quiet DeLuxe typewriter burst into the full-color scene in the 1950s, and we're so glad. Also available in pink, red, gray, and white, it makes typing up your next novel that much more fun. The myTypewriter site has a lot more on offer, from such brands as Corona, Hermes, Olivetti, Olympia, Remington, and Underwood, and provides the perfect gift ideas for those who are lovers of all that is most tangible about the written word.

Don't despair, though. I have cheaper ideas after the jump that are just as (well, almost...) appealing:

[$195, Eden & Eden]

This giant nib necklace is composed of a gold laser cut nib with black crystal "ink" drops. And it's pretty. Plus pretty perfect for the writerly girly girl in your life.

[$50, The Library Shop]

The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World was compiled by a photographer who visited more than 20 historic libraries across the globe. One can't help but be fascinated by the care taken in the housing of such multitudinous sources of knowledge.

[$50, Zwello]

I believe I've posted about these bird feet bookends before, but I can't help but include them in this gift guide. I want them. Bad.

[$36, Glimmer Train]

Finally, why not give a gift subscription to a literary mag, such as Glimmer Train?

...

Gifts Under $25 for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:05:00 GMT

[$12.95, Barnes&Noble]

Let me tell you something. I have a weakness for purses. And a weakness for a-line skirts. And a weakness for things that sparkle. I also have a weakness for olives, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-themed ornaments, newsboy caps, and many other things.

But my biggest weakness (and the reason I never have any money) is the bookstore, and everything contained therein.

Which is why I always buy big bags, ones that can fit at least two or three books: one that I'm reading, and a few more that I just bought but want to pretend I already owned so that no one can actually tell how much money I'm spending on books. The Stephen Colbert tote bag, above, is so perfect for this, plus Stephen's manically smiling visage always makes me giggle. Barnes & Noble also has a bunch of other tote bags to choose from, if political satire just isn't your thing.

After the jump, the things you should fill it with when shopping for your special word nerd:

[$12.95, The Library Shop]

I didn't love the book itself, but I love the concept behind this book lust journal. This book is meant to be used to jot down favorite passages in the books you're reading, or to take notes on meaning, context, and anything else you can think of or feel while reading. Additional page formats enable readers to record books on their "to read" list, and to keep track of books lent to friends and family.

[$9.60, Amazon]

Ah...the moleskine notebook, beloved by writers both well-known and unpublished. An elastic for bookmarking, and a small folder on the inner cover make this perfect for jotting down ideas for the next great novel, scribbling snatches of overheard dialogue, and taking down interviews.

[$11.53, Amazon]

A good thesaurus is key for any writer's reference shelf. I have this Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus, and refer to it often (when I'm having a brain spasm mid-article).

[$18, Levenger]

You can use Margin Maker to take notes in the margins of whatever book you're reading. Cut or tear it to the length you need, place it in your book, and then remove it easily at any time. You can keep it extra long to double as a bookmark.

...

Stocking Stuffers for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:44:00 GMT

[$7, Fred Flare]

I'm a word nerd, in love with the English language, equally happy to be sitting down with a good book or creating my own travesty of grammar and purple prose. If you have someone similar to shop for this holiday season, I may be able to help you out. I'm pretty sure my credit card debt is due more to book purchases than fine couture.

These bookworm bookmarks, for example, would make a super-cute stocking stuffer (I am a collector of bookmarks; and yes, I am a dork). After the jump, check out a bunch of other items your resident word nerd wouldn't mind receiving in their stocking.

[$9, Etsy]

I've been meaning to get these kitty-adorned library cards and card pockets for years.

[$8.95, Archie McPhee]

This librarian action figure — based upon real-life librarian Nancy Pearl — comes with a tiny plastic book and a stack of random literature.

[$5.95, Shakespeare's Den]

The colored sticky tabs are great for marking your favorite quotes or passages and, as for the sticky notes...well, they go like wildfire in my office!

Finally, never underestimate the power of a well-chosen gift card. I've loved it when relatives gave me gift cards from Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, as there's often no place better than a cafe for curling up with coffee and a book, or setting up the laptop, especially if you've been goingstir crazy at home. And of course, the almight Amazon gift card is always much appreciated.

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